What are the rung spacing requirements for the ladder?

• A. 11 inches minimum to 13 inches maximum
• B. Maximum 14 inches and minimum 11 3/4 inches
• C. Fixed at 12 inches with no tolerance
• D. 7 to 9 inches

Answer: (B)

Rung spacing is about keeping climbs comfortable and stable. Each step should land on a rung that’s close enough to the previous one for a natural stride, but not so close that you feel cramped, or so far apart that you risk losing balance or overreaching. The safest, most practical range gives a comfortable foot placement for most footwear and gloves, while still allowing for leg length and boot size.

The best answer sets the spacing from 11 3/4 inches to 14 inches. This range centers around a typical 12-inch stride but includes enough tolerance for different users and conditions, which helps prevent missteps and fatigue. It also accounts for center-to-center measurement commonly used for rung spacing.

The other options are less suitable because one is too tight (7–9 inches would crowd the foot and make stepping awkward or unsafe), another imposes no tolerance (a fixed 12 inches ignores variation among ladders and users), and another narrows the range too much (11–13 inches) while missing the safe maximum of 14 inches.